Matablog

Archive for January, 2013

We’re really proud (I mean it this time) to give you the new video from Yo La Tengo, for “I’ll Be Around” from the band’s new album Fade.

The tender, extraordinary video was directed by longtimebandcohort (and “Junebug”-director) Phil Morrison and co-stars Mac McCaughan of Superchunk along with the members of Yo La Tengo. The video also announces the band’s new Tumblr.

This past weekend, New Yorkers were privileged to have the opportunity to see not one but two Iceage shows, and before the band heads back to Denmark they’ll be playing one more time in the form of a live session for the listeners of Seattle’s KEXP. Please join them at 12:00 noon EST/9:00AM PST as they bring both the noise and the ruckus to John Richards’s Morning Show. If you’re in Seattle, you can tune in at 90.3FM, while others can listen online at KEXP.org.

If you like what yu hear, please consider pre-ordering Iceage’s Matador debut, You’re Nothing, at our online store; not only is it 15% off, but you also get a poster and a flag.

Just in from the department of unexpectedness…. Banks (no, not Lloyd) has upped a mixtape and it’s called EVERYBODY ON MY DICK LIKE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE.

Actually, we kinda knew this was happening. Paul sent over a rough mixtape about 9 months ago of his beats and production and it was genius. And what, with all the Kendricks and the A$APs and whatever, we thought a mixtape would take Banks to new heights if we got it out months before release.

But the long-standing issues with Matador and the rap game quickly blew up our pre-release hype strategy. Long story short, we have earned a certain “cash-only” rep in the hip hop world requiring us to either send briefcases handcuffed to interns to studios deep in Flatbush or…. call in favors which takes time.

In this case, Paul called in a some mega-favors and got features from El-P, Talib, Mike G, and… hold up, HIGH PRIZM (né High Priest).

(Programming note, I’ve spent the entire morning doing things to all sorts of websites that we aren’t ever allowed to do. I AM DARKTOOB. And I feel like Dean Bein.)

Listen to the whole thing over on Soundcloud:

The El-P cut entitled “Quite Enough” has been excerpted for those needing “an entry point”.

You love Yo La Tengo. You love the new Yo La Tengo album Fade. You love hot chicken. And coincidentally you live in or around Nashville. Well dangit, it’s your lucky day because tomorrow at 1pm CST Yo La Tengo will be stopping in Grimey’s before their show later in the evening at Music City mainstay Mercy Lounge to play a free, all ages instore.

And to add to the fun, Grimey’s will be providing all in attendance (while delicious, piping hot supplies last) with some Prince’s Hot Chicken. So come for the rock, stay for the fowl. Or the other way around. Whichever you prefer. Remember #rocknfowl And be sure to pick up a copy of the absolutely stunning new Yo La Tengo album Fade while you’re in the house.

Oh you don’t live in Nashville? Well lucky you. The band is but a few days into their tour and maybe they’re coming to a town near you.

Here’s another taste of Iceage‘s forthcoming longplayer, ‘You’re Nothing‘, this time in visual format: “Ecstasy“, directed by Catherine Pattinama Coleman and filmed in Copenhagen.

‘You’re Nothing‘ is out on February 19 (in North America, 18 elsewhere) – preorder it here and get an exclusive Iceage logo flag & poster (while supplies last). “Ecstasy”, “Coalition” & exclusive b-side “A Rifle” will also appear on an Escho 7″, out on February 5, and available via import in limited quantity at the Matador Store now.

Also, a reminder that Iceage are playing twice in New York this weekend. The 285 Kent show in Brooklyn is now sold out. Show up early on Saturday 1/26 to get into to the ‘Thrown Together‘ art event curated by Iceage & friends, it’s bound to be memorable experience that’ll sell out before you can blink. Those 200 attendees of the show will receive these one-of-a-kind handprinted tickets (tickets only available day of the show at the gallery: doors 6pm)

When we initially announced the release of the new Iceage albumYou’re Nothing we mentioned that pre-orders would include a band designed poster in addition to being 15% off. Taking a good idea and making it great, instead of a band designed poster we are now offering a up a band designed flag, and for you poster aficionados we will still be throwing in a regular poster to boot.

The flag which measures 12×8″ and includes a heading and grommets can be seen below.

The band will also find themselves on US shores this week for a few shows, including:

We’re told this might be footage from Come’s first public performance. Perhaps you thought this would be the post where we’d announce the presale for the May reissue of Come’s debut album, ‘Eleven : Eleven’. Or maybe even the post where some live dates would be unveiled. If you should know anything by now, it’s that we have a tendency to drag this shit out. “Are they being paid by the post?” you might well wonder, and why yes, in fact WE ARE. (video courtesy Chunklet)

Today sees the release of the second album from Esben and the Witch. Wash The Sins Not Only The Face is as majestic as it is triumphant – dispelling any fears of the ‘difficult second album’, the band have grown into themselves and produced a focused and confident album. The album has been streaming all week over at Pitchfork.

For folks outside of the US – Order / download here, or visit your local independent record store – iTunes | Vinyl | CD And for those stateside, grab your copy from the Matador Store.

On this historic day in rock history, let’s recall the moment nearly 3 years ago when (Sir?) Paul attempted to explain to his adoring fans, the difference between a record store, a rock concert and an art space as world renowned as the Wentworth Gallery of the Short Hills Mall (Short Hills, NJ). Though it is truly sad that not everyone can respect such boundaries, please look at the bright side ; at least this didn’t take place at a Ron Wood art show.

Tart garlic chicken, from the Shan region of Burma, may not look like much, but boy it packs a chickeny-lime wallop. It’s a simple hearty dish that is perfect for the winter cold season. The ingredient list is incredibly simple: chicken, garlic, ginger, long green chiles, cilantro and lime juice.

The broth picks up added richness from the hacked bones, but there’s not much else to it.

Served with kachin pounded beef with herbs again, a sort of salad made in a mortar & pestle and infused with Sichuan peppercorns from neighboring China. Plus Burmese tart-sweet chili garlic sauce on the side.

Ever want to wear a piece of Matador Records? Ever want to wear that piece of Matador Records for free? Any order over $50 from the Matador Store will qualify for a Matador shirt (of our choosing) in the size of your choosing.

If you’ve bought $50 worth of music just tell us what size shirt you’d like in your order comments. Women’s sizes available in Medium or Large and Men’s sizes available in Small, Medium, Large, or XL. If you don’t put a size in the comments you aren’t getting one, so please don’t leave that info out. Offer valid while supplies last.

Fade release week rolls on as Yo La Tengo, fresh from yesterday’s triumphant (and packed) Amoeba in-store in LA, hits the Pacific Northwest in suitably grand style. If you’re savvy enough to own either a radio OR a computer, you can check out an exclusive live set from Georgia, Ira and James on Seattle’s KEXP, after which Ira will be sticking around to guest DJ with host Kevin Cole. It all goes down starting at 6pm EST/3pm PST at 90.3FM and KEXP.org.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE. If you find yourself in Seattle today, it would behoove you to make your way to the soon-to-shutter Queen Anne location of Easy Street Records, which Yo La Tengo will be sending off with the store’s final in- store performance ever at 7pm. This is sure to be a rip-roaring farewell so don’t be the one to have to tell your grandkids you missed it because I promise they will never forgive you.

Way back in 1993, when things like newsstands and magazines still existed, Entertainment Weekly’s David Browne called ‘Eleven : Eleven’, the first album from Boston’s Come, “enthralling, like watching someone howl into a rainstorm.” The album in question was the result of a collision between Boston/New York guitarist/vocalist Thalia Zedek (formerly of Dangerous Birds, Uzi and Live Skull), Oberlin product / guitar wizard Chris Brokaw, and one of the more powerful rhythm sections of the last half century, drummer Arthur Johnson and bassist Sean O’Brien. Despite being one of the best album in this label’s long history and one of the more memorable debut albums in an era full of ‘em, ‘Eleven : Eleven’ has been out of print for far too long. This May, however, that situation is rectified with a deluxe, double disc reissue (2XLP, 2XCD) comprising the original album plus a bonus disc featuring Come’s October 10, 1992 performance at the Vermonstress Festival. The 2XLP edition will also include a bonus 7″, a reissue of the “Fast Piss Blues” b/w “I Got The Blues” single.

Matador will handle the North and South American release ; Glitterhouse will be reissuing ‘Eleven : Eleven’ in the same configurations in Europe.

Just an(other) reminder that today marks the release date for ‘Fade’, the first new Yo La Tengo album in 3 1/2 years. Calling Georgia, Ira and James one of the most important bands in Matador’s history is, to tell the the truth, selling them very short. That they’ve made some of the most amazing albums of our lifetimes is pretty well established, but ‘Fade’ suggests the trio have scaled new heights in their power to surprise. That virtually every important media outlet from Pitchfork to Mojo to Stereogum to The Guardian seems to echo these sentiments speaks volumes about how music critics are amongst society’s most underpaid and underappreciated cultural missionaries.

If you can’t find a record shop in your neighborhood, the deluxe (shown above) or standard LP editions are available at the Matador Store, as are the CD (shown below) and digital versions. Yo La Tengo will be on NBC’s “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” tonight at 12:30am eastern, and their West Coast tour of record shops starts Wednesday in Long Beach, CA.

The new Esben and the Witch album Wash The Sins Not Only The Face is out on Monday, but a week early Pitchfork stream the album in full as part of their new Advance series (where you might have caught the new Yo La Tengo album last week). The stream comes with full artwork, complete with lyrics and in-studio photos exclusive to Pitchfork.

Esben play a hometown show at The Green Door Store in Brighton on the eve of their album release this Sunday (tickets with pre-orders from Resident Records), with a Rough East in-store next Tuesday, January 22nd at 7pm.

Their European tour commences in February with the below dates, be sure to also check out the new Despair and Deathwaltz videos too.